Lexus NX video review

From the moment you sit in it you realise Lexus has gone to a lot of trouble making the NX feel special. The doors close with a convincing but cosseting whump and the windows go up and down nearly silently, gently slowing as they nestle up into their frames. And engineers have added rubber footings to the cupholders, allowing one handed removal of the lid on a drink.

It’s the sort of car that that looks and feels luxurious before you start playing with the long list of standard features.

In some ways it’s indicative of the job at hand. The NX arrives into the fastest growing luxury segment – compact SUVs – and could go on to be the best selling model for the brand. It has to compete with established hot sellers, such as Audi’s Q5 and BMW’s X3.

New Lexus NX

New Lexus NX compact SUV.

It’s slightly smaller than those, though, and is aimed at covering the bottom end of the prestige SUV market too.

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In the cabin, then, it feels compact, more so in the back, where leg room is OK rather than generous. Thankfully the plush outer seats and quality plastics and finishes ensure the luxury flavour isn’t lost on those in the back seat.

Up front, too, the seats offer a great blend of comfort and support. The pinched centre stack - it mimics the spindle grille – and the hand stitched dashboard continue the theme of impressive attention to detail.

While storage levels are modest there are some interesting items, such as the removable mirror-backed panel that reveals a hidey hole for sunglasses.

The Remote Touch system has been revised, replacing the fiddly mouse-like controller in recent Lexuses with a touch pad. It's an interesting set up that isn't functionally any better than a single knob and some buttons, but with its innovative feedback system it makes it easy enough to select what you want on the seven-inch screen, although we still overshot our intended selection on a couple of occasions.

Starting the NX is done with the push of a button and there’s an electronic handbrake that is the best in the business (other than its noticeable activation noise from outside the car), automatically coming on and off as required.

The hybrid drivetrain - with its dual electric motors (three if you choose the four-wheel-drive model) and 2.5-litre four-cylinder – it makes for decent performance. Long running hills will have the engine revving harder as the CVT auto matches the driver's demands with the terrain.

There's a mild rumble as the hybrid switches from electric-only propulsion to petrol-electric but after that it's seamless and smooth.

With 145kW of power there's also ample for shifting the 1.7-tonne-plus NX. And with claimed fuel use as low as 5.6 litres per 100km it gives the European diesel engines it will compete with a run for their money.

But if it's performance you want the new 2.0-litre engine in the NX200t is the pick. With 175kW it’s a more astute unit, with the exception of initial acceleration, which is average. Once moving, though, there’s a useful dollop of torque that makes for effortless acceleration.

It sounds perky, too, and the Active Sound Control that pumps synthesised sound into the cabin is as convincing as any at adding some bass to the note.

That new engine is mated to a six-speed automatic, which is two fewer than most rivals, something that shows on the road. While the engine masks any major holes in terms of response, the auto is not as smart as it could be.

In its quest for fuel economy it’s often too eager to change into fifth or sixth gears, then when you call on more punch it can shift down inelegantly.

It’s not a deal breaker, but it takes the edge off an otherwise great drivetrain.

On the road the NX feels relaxed and hushed, with the exception of some tyre roar on coarse surfaces. The steering is fluid and responsive, with minimal leaning through bends indicative of the composed body control. The ride is well composed and plush, with some acceptable firmness at lower speeds.

The least impressive attribute is the actuation of the stability control, which can be too sensitive in gentle driving. Feed the throttle on in a tighter bend, for example, and the power delivery can hesitate as the electronics step in.

But, again, it’s no impediment to considering what is a beautifully finished, good performing SUV that promises a better on-paper value equation than that of established rivals. And the sort of attention to detail that would make some blush.